By Hannah Soyer
In case you missed the news Sunday evening, FBI Director James Comey reaffirmed his decision to not pursue criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server. This announcement came about two weeks after Comey announced that the FBI was investigating a new batch of emails that were either to or from Clinton. It seems Clinton’s so called “criminal” status has no evidence backing it up.
However, Donald Trump has an upcoming court date for fraud, has bragged about and has been accused by 12 women of sexual assault, has called Mexicans “rapists,” has mocked those with disabilities and thrown a boy with cerebral palsy who was protesting out of one of his rallies while Trump supporters kicked at his wheelchair.
My plea goes to the many people who have decided not to vote or who are voting third party.
All the people I have talked to who are not voting or who are voting third party staunchly agree that Trump is terrible. But they also do not like Clinton, for one reason or another, or, perhaps, for no clear reason at all. And I understand this. Overall, I am a fan of most of Clinton’s policies and the work she has done in the past as a senator, first lady, and as the secretary of State. That said, I’m not behind all her foreign-policy opinions. But I am not behind Trump’s foreign-policy opinions, either, or any of his opinions.
I acknowledge the ultimate danger of putting Trump in the White House and realize that we as voters can stop this.
This is what I am asking those of you who have decided on a protest vote: Either Trump or Clinton is going to be elected, that’s just reality. If you want to defeat Trump, you must vote, and your vote must be for Clinton.
If you speak with enough people, you will hear an overwhelming consensus that this election has been incredibly draining and disheartening for them. It isn’t hard to see why. For me, it’s not just the people I know or the people in my family who are voting for Trump that feels like a personal affront. I was never that close to these people anyway, probably for obvious reasons, and so the knowledge that they’re willing to overlook the seriousness of sexual assault, misogyny, racism, homophobia, and the rights of those with disabilities doesn’t hurt all that much. But it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around those who have decided not to vote, or to vote third party, all because they despise Trump and think he’s unfit to be president but also don’t like Clinton. Iowa is predicted to turn red, but it doesn’t have to.
I know that everyone has the right to choose whom they vote for and that this is a key pillar of our democracy. And I know that politics is sometimes a messy and contentious topic. But call me crazy; this election isn’t just politics anymore, it’s people’s lives. It’s my life. It’s the lives of women, it’s the lives of people with disabilities, it’s the lives of those in the LGBTQ community, it’s the lives of those of different races, different religions, and different incomes. And as someone who falls into a couple of these categories, it’s hard for me to accept that there are people who are putting their own dislike of Clinton over the rights of so many people whose rights are being threatened to be taken away. We can’t just fall somewhere in the middle when we are faced with such a dangerous candidate. We must take responsibility, and we must vote. Vote to stop him.